Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-29
NO RELIEF AT PRESENT.
Petition of Boston Railroad Men Denied
Temporary Suspension to Other Roads.


A Washington despatch says: In the
matter Of the Boston export trade, in re
lation to which petitions were presented
by the Fitchburg, Boston and Lowell,
New York and New England and Central
Vermont lines, an exhaustive opinion,
prepared by Judge Cooley, has been rend
cred by the Interstate commerce com
mission. 1t was not shown that the com
mission had the power to give relief. 1t
was stated that there were times when
the rebate exceeded the ocean rates and
that then suspension of the operation of
the fourth section would be necessary,
since other railroad companies would
| be legally liable to penalties for Charg-
| ing and receiving greater sum for the
| transportations of grain and provisions
| from Western points to Boston than from
the same Western points through Boston
to the foreign market. What the com
panies desire is authority to continue the
payment of the rebate as well when it
| falls short of the ocean rate as when 1t eX-
ceeds it. As explained by the petitions
the rebate has for its purpose to correct
an equality that would otherwise exist,
| and which, by making the cost of foreign
shipping by way of Boston greater than
by way of New York, would practically
exclude shipping from the choice of the
Boston routes, though the distance from
interior points to the foreign markets
would be practically no greater by that
route than by the other.
This alleged necessity for the equaliza-
ton of rate on export traffic is relied on as
a justification for the higher rate which is
imposed on the traffic whose final destina-
ton is Boston. which higher rate, how.
ever, is averred in itself just and reasona
Bile. If its purpose is only to do indirectly
rhot ,,,ifr Il 1r ha IL
lading issued at the interior point OF ship
ment for the delivery Of the goods at the
foreign destination, and if no discrimlna
ton is made between persons engaged il
the foreign traffic, but the rebate is paC
impartially, and only as means of pro
tecting the Boston lines having the export
trade against an excess in charge that
would be ruinOus, then it is obvions there
is no occasion for calling upon the com
mission to give sanction to a practice
which would be legal without it, Indeed
any legal ground for affirmative actor
on the part Of the commission is pre-
cluded since those who bring the prac
tice to its attention do so with expla
nations of its propriety, and insisting upol
its lawfulness. Whether the freight iron
interior points ought to be carried at rate.
as low as those prevailing from the sam,
points to New York is a question not legt
imately before the commission now Tn,
railroad companies, the only parties ask
ing action at our hands, justify the differ
ence now made on the ground of longe
haul, While submitting tC rebate on thu
export trade under species of compul
sion. If the eXactiOnS from the Boston
traffic proper are excessive the fact cal
only be adjudicated when somebody ques
lions them in proceeding instituted TO
, the purpose OF regular Investigation. |
follows from what has been said that n
order should be made on the petitions
and the petitioners have leave to Withdraw
them
Following is the reply of the inter, Stat
commission to the petitions of various raj
roads of New England for the suspension
of the long and short clauses
Dear Sir: Your petitions were presente
/ to us so late, while the transcontnental maj
tiers were pressing and on the eve of our de
parture for the South, that their immediat
consideration is almost impossible. Moreover
= you do not show in your petitions, or prov
, by evidence, any pressing eAgency or I'M
perative urgency for a temporary order, sue
e as has been shown in the not very numcrou
cases in which such orders have been mad,
They have been withheld in other Instance
! upon that ground. 1t will not be very lon
: before our views will be formulated, but 4
present II is matter of hearing and consider
alton. Your statement, that you are advise
: and believe that no relief from us is nece
, sary, has also been observed, and very Wig
: orous protest against granting you this relic
= has been received, in which hearing is dc
, manded, of which a copy is inclosed. Unde
: all these circumstances the consideration {
tue petitions presented by you must be de
1erred until our return from our Souther
: trip. Very truly yours,
ALDACE F, WALKER.
An order has been issued suspendin
the fourth section for IS days, subject t
revocation, and with proviso that intel
mediate rates shall not be raised aboy
those in force April 20. This applies t
: Northern Pacific, Southern Pacific, Atch
son, Topeka and Santa Fee and ST. Loui
, engaged in considering the course whic
it will finally adopt in reference to ecto
4, and will receive affidavits as to the mat
} ter of fact, and printed or written argu
ments on matters of fact or law, whicl
should be presented without delay.